ORIGINAL_ARTICLE First record of Ombrana sikimensis (Jerdon, 1870) (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, with comments on its use and conservation status We report the discovery of the Sikkim Frog, Ombrana sikimensis from Central Bhutan’s Zhemgang district, in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The frog which is found residing in a clean perennial stream is used by the local for consumption. It is supposed to heal stomach related ailments in human beings. This record will help Bhutan understand the use of the species and help in prioritizing conservation and the importance of the species. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-121-en.pdf 2021-03-31 1 5 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.1 Bhutan conservation location new record uses Zhemgang Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal jigmewangyal@gmail.com 1 University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia; Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, Haa, Bhutan AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0488-4830 Tandel Zangpo 2 Zhemgang Forest Division, Zhemgang, Bhutan AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5488-955X Sonam Phuntsho 3 Zhemgang Forest Division, Zhemgang, Bhutan AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6933-7539
SHORT_COMMUNICATION A case of unilateral anophthalmy in the Burmese python, Python bivittatus Kuhl, 1820 (Squamata: Pythonidae) from Nepal Abnormalities in reptiles have been mostly reported from captive individuals. Here, we report a case of unilateral anophthalmy in the Burmese python Python bivittatus for the first time from Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Reptiles exposed to various pollutants, such as pesticides, can develop morphological abnormalities. The present report from a human-dominated landscape is an opportunistic observation of a rescued snake. We suggest a more systematic, collection-based, research program to reveal the possible causative agents and the degree of their effect on herpetofauna in Nepal. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-106-en.pdf 2021-03-31 6 10 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.2 Absence of eye Chitwan National Park deformity snake Santosh Bhattarai santosh.bhattaarai@hotmail.com 1 National Trust for Nature Conservation-Biodiversity Conservation Center, Ratnanagar-06, Sauraha, Chitwan-44204, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7615-1954 Babu Ram Lamichhane 2 National Trust for Nature Conservation-Biodiversity Conservation Center, Ratnanagar-06, Sauraha, Chitwan-44204, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0580-7682 Naresh Subedi 3 National Trust for Nature Conservation, Khumaltar, Lalitpur, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4517-4912
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE A new record of Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from the state of Mizoram, India The occurrence of the hormurid scorpion Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius) is reported for the first time from the state of Mizoram, northeast India. The specimens were identified on the basis of morphological characters and molecular analysis using a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene. The species is reported from multiple localities within the state, constituting at least seven different populations. The specimens were larger than those from previous records. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-113-en.pdf 2021-04-19 11 17 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.3 New state report mitochondrial COI gene north-eastern India Fanai Malsawmdawngliana sawmazoo@yahoo.com 1 Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3061-8325 Mathipi Vabeireiryulai m.vabeiryureilai@gmail.com 2 Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8708-3686 Tara Malsawmdawngzuali natzumitara@gmail.com 3 Department of Life Sciences, Pachhunga University College, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796001, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5939-7618 Lal Biakzuala bzachawngthu123@gmail.com 4 Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5142-3511 Lalengzuala Tochhawng tlalengzuala@gmail.com 5 Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8566-5671 Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga htlrsa@yahoo.co.in 6 Developmental Biology and Herpetology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Aizawl 796004, Mizoram, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3080-8647
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Biological aspectss of the Marsh frog Pelophylax ridibundus population from the Shadegan Wetland, Khuzestan Province, Iran The Marsh frog, Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas) is distributed in Central Europe from northeastern France, north to the southern shorelines of the Baltic Sea (and extreme southern Finland), south to northeastern Spain, northern Italy and the Balkans including eastern Greece, east to approximately 81° E in Asiatic Russia, and south to western Iran and Afghanistan. The present study has been conducted on populations of P. ridibundus in the northern, eastern and southern regions of the Shadegan Wetland of Khuzestan Province, Iran with the aim of examining some aspects of its morphology and karyotype. Frog specimens were collected from different portions of the Shadegan Wetland during spring and autumn 2016 and transferred to the laboratory. According to the morphological results, three color patterns are identified among the samples in terms of the morphology, morphometry and sex - according to the sex independency test. T-test results between males and females indicate a significant difference in all traits and the results of a T2 Hotelling test show that there is sexual dimorphism between males and females. However, the results of multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) illustrate a separation between males of the northern region and the two other regions, and no differentiation between females in the eastern and southern regions of the wetland. The karyotype of the species in the wetland included 2n = 26, one pair of which had a sex chromosome.   http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-41-en.pdf 2021-04-25 18 26 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.4 Marsh frog morphology population sexual dimorphism Ashraf Jazayeri Jazayeriashraf@ymail.com 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, 6135783151 Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6370-887X Fahimeh Saberi fahime.saberi.1991@gmail.com 2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, 6135783151 Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9496-9135 Tayebeh Mohammadi t.mohammadi@scu.ac.ir 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, 6135783151 Ahvaz, Iran AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6063-0026
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Correlation of fish assemblages with habitat and environmental variables in the Phewa Khola Stream of Mangsebung Rural Municipality, Ilam, Nepal We assessed the correlation of fish assemblages with habitat and environmental variables temporally from July and October, 2019 and January and April, 2020 across 5 study sites in the Phewa Khola stream of Mangsebung Rural Municipality, Ilam, Nepal. We sampled 3571 fish representing 13 species, belonging to 3 orders, 4 families, and 9 genera. An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated that there is a significant difference between the fish assemblage structure in space (R= 0.833, P= 0.001) but not in time (R= -0.148, P= 0.985). Our habitat study showed that glides, runs, pools and deep pools are the primary habitats contributing to the maximum diversity in the Phewa Khola stream. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) affirmed that variables such as pH, water temperature, water velocity, total hardness and dissolved oxygen play an important role in shaping fish species distribution. Results from the similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) hinted that, 67.08% similarity was found between the months and the major contributing species were Schistura multifasciata (20.61%), Devario aequipinnatus (16.48%), Schistura rupecula (15.65%), Garra annandalei (15.36%), Schistura horai (7.74%), Schistura scaturigina (5.91%), Schistura savona (5.74%), Schizothorax plagiostomus (4.37%), Channa punctata (3.9%), Puntius terio (1.9%) and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (1.39%). On the contrary, a 76.23% similarity was found between the sites and the major contributing species were Schistura multifasciata (21%), Devario aequipinnatus (16.8%), Garra annandalei (15.89%), Schistura rupecula (15.38%), Schistura horai (7.7%), Schistura scaturigina (5.66%), Schistura savona (4.9%), Schizothorax plagiostomus (4.4%), Channa punctata (3.97%), Puntius terio (2%) and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (1.43%). Ongoing road development, micro-hydropower generation, the use of poisonous herbicides, illegal electro-fishing, deforestation and water diversion are all found to be major threats to the present fish species of the Phewa Khola stream.   http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-109-en.pdf 2021-05-24 27 36 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.5 Fish diversity Falgunanda habitat stream spatio-temporal Jash Hang Limbu limbujash@gmail.com 1 Nature Conservation and Health Care Council, Biratnagar, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8006-4199 Suren Subba surensubba35@yahoo.com 2 Dhankuta Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Dhankuta, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4355-3564 Jeevan Kumar Gurung jeevanpost@gmail.com 3 Damak Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Damak, Jhapa, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8784-4617 Jawan Tumbahangfe jawansubba37@gmail.com 4 Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6910-9344 Bharat Raj Subba subbabharatraj@gmail.com 5 Post Graduate Campus, Tribhuvan University, Biratnagar, Nepal AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7772-5198
REVIEW_ARTICLE An annotated checklist of damselfishes, Family Pomacentridae Bonaparte, 1831 A checklist of the damselfishes of the world, family Pomacentridae, is presented. A total of 798 nominal species belonging to 423 valid species and 29 genera is included. Most of the species are grouped in five genera: Chromis (109 species), Pomacentrus (82), Chrysiptera (40), Stegastes (39), and Amphiprion (29), but 12 genera contain only one or two species. The following main taxonomic decisions are taken: Chrysiptera personata Fowler, 1946 is a new synonym of Chrysiptera rex (Snyder 1909); Dischistodus notophthalmus (Bleeker, 1853) is the valid name for the species known as Dischistodus melanotus (Bleeker, 1858). Chaetodon rotundus Linnaeus, 1758 and Chaetodon rotundatus Lacepède, 1802 are senior synonyms of Abudefduf bengalensis (Bloch, 1787). Perca japonica Bloch, 1792 is a senior synonym of Chromis notata (Temminck and Schlegel, 1843); Pomacentrus niomatus De Vis, 1884 is a senior synonym of Stegastes fasciolatus (Ogilby, 1889); Glyphisodon sculptus Peters, 1855 is a senior synonym of Abudefduf notatus (Day, 1870). All these senior synonyms are herein regarded as nomina oblita. Neopomacentrus flavicauda is proposed as nomen novum Neopomacentrus xanthurus Allen and Randall, 1980. Stegastes adustus (Troschel, 1865) is the valid name for the species known as Stegastes dorsopunicans (Poey, 1868) and Wangia Fowler, 1954 is an available name not invalidated by Wanga Chen 1943. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-120-en.pdf 2021-06-30 37 109 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.6 Chrysiptera personata Glyphidodon sculptus nomen protectum nomen oblitum nomen novum Paolo Parenti paolo.parenti@unimib.it 1 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 1, 20126 Milano, Italy AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9749-4048
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE On further specimens of the Pit viper Trimeresurus erythrurus (Cantor, 1839) (Squamata: Viperidae), with description of a topotype and range extension to the Godavari Basin, peninsular India We report on a topotypical specimen of the spot-tailed pit viper Trimeresurus erythrurus recorded from Sunderbans in India and a distant, southerly, range extension from Kakinada mangroves, based on preserved (n= 1, seen in 2019) and live uncollected (n= 2; seen in 2014) specimens, respectively. The specimens (n= 3) share the following characteristics: verdant green dorsum, yellow iris, white ventrolateral stripes in males, 23 midbody scale rows, 161–172 ventrals, 61–76 subcaudals, and reddish tail tip. Drawing on the published records, its apparent rarity within its type locality and lack of records from the Circar Coast of India, our study significantly adds to the knowledge of the distribution and morphology of this species. Being a medically important venomous snake, its presence in the Godavari mangrove basin calls for wider dissemination of this information among medical practitioners, in addition to fundamental researchers like academics and herpetologists. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-115-en.pdf 2021-07-17 110 119 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.7 Circar Coast Kakinada mangrove morphology Sunderbans West Bengal Kaushik Deuti kaushikdeuti@gmail.com 1 Zoological Survey of India, Herpetology Division, 27 JL Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3319-3665 Ramaswamy Aengals aengalszsiramasamy@yahoo.com 2 Zoological Survey of India, Sunderbans Field Research Center, Canning 743329, West Bengal, India AUTHOR Sujoy Raha sujoy167@gmail.com 3 Zoological Survey of India, Herpetology Division, 27 JL Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2416-5726 Sudipta Debnath sudiptazsi1984@gmail.com 4 Zoological Survey of India, Herpetology Division, 27 JL Nehru Road, Kolkata 700016, West Bengal, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4244-2240 Ponnusamy Sathiyaselvam selvamundp@gmail.com 5 Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Marg, Mumbai 400023, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7779-3756 Sumaithangi Rajagopalan Ganesh snakeranglerr@gmail.com 6 Chennai Snake Park, Rajbhavan post, Chennai 600022, Tamil Nadu, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1947-8093
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Breeding data on Blanford’s Rock Agama Psammophilus blanfordanus (Stoliczka, 1871) from Gujarat State, India Blanford’s Rock Agama, Psammophilus blanfordanus is an Indian endemic species of lizard in family Agamidae. A pair of the species was kept in captivity for six months for a breeding biology study. The female laid six eggs (average size 12.61 x 8.13 mm) in the month of August and hatchlings emerged after 34 days of incubation. Ambient temperature ranged between 27.5 to 31.5 °C. Average hatchling size was 24.15 mm snout to vent length and 33.63 mm tail length. All of the six eggs hatched. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-119-en.pdf 2021-08-26 120 126 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.8 Agamidae breeding captivity endemic Rock Agama Raju Vyas razoovyas@hotmail.com 1 Retired Zoo Office, Sayaji Baug Zoo, Vadodara, 390007, Gujarat, India AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2467-5494
SHORT_COMMUNICATION First confirmed record of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) from the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan The world currently recognizes 214 species of Caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) most of which occur in the wet tropics and some adjacent subtropical regions. Of the ten-family classification known, three occur in Asia, viz. Chikilidae (endemic to northeast India, Indotyphlidae (India’s Western and Eastern Ghats) and Ichthyophiidae. However, until this report, there were no confirmed reports of any caecilian species from Bhutan, although their presence has been assumed likely given their occurrence in adjacent countries. This report provides the first confirmed report of caecilians in Bhutan with work to identify the species to be carried on later with further research. http://jad.lu.ac.ir/article-1-153-en.pdf 2021-08-31 127 132 10.52547/JAD.2021.3.1.9 Apoda annular grooves Ichthyophis species Tsirang district Jigme Tshelthrim Wangyal jigmewangyal@gmail.com 1 University of New England, Armidale NSW 2351, Australia; Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve, Department of Forest and Park Services, Kingdom of Bhutan, Haa 15001, Bhutan AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0488-4830 Gyeltshen Gyeltshen gyeltshen827@education.gov.bt 2 Mendrelgang Primary School, Tsirang 36001, Bhutan AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5169-6875 David J. Gower d.gower@nhm.ac.uk 3 Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK AUTHOR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1725-8863